The Pace Report: "Duke Vision" The George Duke Interview

This month marks the beginning of the 30th Anniversary of the famed Blue Note Jazz Club. For 30 years, this Greenwich Village staple has been the home of some the most musical icons ranging from Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Rosemary Clooney and Roy Ayers. Many of the greats of jazz, soul, and pop have graced the stage for what many music fans have hailed as the jazz "capitol of the world."

What better way to properly kick off the anniversary festivities is to have none other than jazz/R & B vocalist Al Jarreau perform in what would be his debut at The Blue Note featuring the legendary George Duke and his Trio. Duke's trio featured Grammy-Award winning bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spaulding and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. Bassist Michael Manson played with both Al and George while Miss. Spaulding performed at another engagement.

The performances were also on the heels of the new recording "Al Jarreau and the George Duke Trio, Live at The Half Note, Volume. 1." This is the first of three vintage recordings that George is releasing when the two were both getting started in music when they performed in San Fransisco, California in the mid-1960's. George had the material sitting in his closet for decades and decided to have Al listen to the material. After endless hours of mixing the material, George was able to come up with three discs of material. Volume 1 is the first of the next two discs that will be released in the next couple of years.

George Duke has been one of the most requested session musicians, producers, and musical directors over the last three decades. As a leader, Duke has recorded 40 projects with artists such as Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke, Jill Scott, Billy Cobham, Milton Nascimento and Airto Moreira. As a producer he's produced records for the likes of Miles Davis, Steps Ahead, Anita Baker, Rachelle Farrell, Regina Belle, Dianne Reeves, George Clinton and Jeffrey Osborne.

Duke's role during the weeklong engagement at was both an exciting, but, also tedious as well. As the music director, he had to rehearse music of Al Jarreau, his music, and also Brenda Russell's music. The chemistry between both Esperanza Spaulding and Terri Lyne Carrington were a match made in heaven. Considering this was the first time Miss. Spaulding played with George and saw the music the day of the Thursday performance, she played like she's been in his band for years! Esperanza performed on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances. During his set, he performed many of his classics including "Sweet Baby," "No Rhyme and No Reason," and a medley of songs he produced and wrote on the monumental "Amandla" recording from Miles Davis.

For upcoming dates or to order George and Al's latest disc, please visit him on the web at www.georgeduke.com.